Office vs creative monitors: what actually matters

A monitor is a five-to-seven-year purchase, so it is worth matching it to how you actually work rather than to a spec sheet.

For office and development work, resolution and size do the heavy lifting. A 27-inch 1440p or a 32-inch 4K panel gives you crisp text and room for windows side by side. A 60Hz IPS panel is completely fine here; save the money.

For photo and video, colour is the spec that matters. Look for at least 99% sRGB coverage, and DCI-P3 numbers if you deliver for the web or film. Factory calibration reports are a green flag.

High refresh rate — 120Hz and up — is mostly for gaming and for the general feeling of smoothness. It is nice to have, but it is the first thing to cut if the budget is tight and your work is not motion-heavy.

Whatever you pick, get a proper stand or a VESA arm. Ergonomics outlast every spec on the box.